A Comparison of the Alpha 200 and the Alpha 100

• Clear any previous dog tracks
• Mark your current location at the start of the hunt

• For hunters that run multiple dogs, the Alpha 200 handheld allows you to Activate and Deactivate the dogs in the list and tracked handheld contacts
• A deactivated device is still paired into the system, but hidden from the tracking list, map, and compass
• Deactivating is useful, for example, if you have dogs left at home (or not on the hunt). It hides the persistent unconnected "Question Mark (?)" alerts

• Most settings and commands have been re-distributed into new and different sub-menu commands
• Showing and Hiding Birdseye Satellite imagery has changed
  • The menu option to "Declutter Map on/off" has been removed. Now, there is a map layer control on the left part of the screen

• Ability to see up to four tracked devices per page
  • Swipe up and down on the screen to show the additional tracked devices
• New larger fonts, directional arrow, and dog statuses such as sitting, running, pointing, or treeing
• Tap any item for its detailed Information Page
• New horizontal compass to give the direction the handheld is pointing

• Easily see the radio status of all your tracked devices:
  • ID number
  • Battery level
  • Radio Communication and GPS signal strength
• Tap any item for its Info Page for deeper menu controls
  • The ID sharing functions and codes
  • Adjust the collar beacon light
  • Activate or deactivate an individual dog or handheld
  • Assign the device to a different group

• There is no need for any subscription
• The process is done within the BirdsEye Direct tool on the home screen of the Alpha 200 handheld
  • Allows you to select areas on the map
  • Adjust the image quality/file size
  • Manage other aspects of the image file like saving to internal storage or microSD card

There are differences and some limitations for BirdsEye Direct:

• This does not involve a computer or BaseCamp™ software; BirdsEye Direct downloads do not save in BaseCamp™ software
• BirdsEye Direct images do not interface/display on a separate computer while the Alpha 200 handheld is BaseStation mode

• Track Recording Controls: This allows you to start and stop the track, save the track, delete the track, shows time elapsed, and distance covered
• Track Information: Shows more information about the track, change color, and show/hide toggle the track
• Map: To see an overview of the entire track from start to finish, Initiate TracBack® routing feature to calculate a route to get back where you came from
• Elevation Plot: showing a graphical review of your ascent and descent data over time

• Where To? (Route to waypoints, coordinates, cities, etc.)
• The Compass Utility
• Route Planner 
• Trip computer 

• Check your handheld's battery level, GPS strength, Back-light control and Time of Day
• The touchscreen lock is much easier and more intuitive to use
• The training buttons lock is now a separate control
• "My ID" allows you to turn your own handheld's contact tracking on and off.  You can then assign that ID number to another tracked device. 
• There is a new Alerts tool to show you a history of system notifications such as:
  • Dog Status alerts
  • Battery level alerts
  • Communication loss alerts and many others

• Swipe left and right through three different home screen pages 
• The most commonly used tools in the system are displayed prominently in the interface. The user can customize the interface, however, for individual preference
  
  • All other GPS tools in the system can be added to the home screens via Setup > Main Menu
  • Additional home screen pages can be added or removed
• The new Status/Notifications bar allows you to quickly see the battery level, GPS strength, time of day, and system notifications

• Update software via Wi-Fi
  • Go to Setup > Wi-Fi
• Garmin Express™ software: Updates both software and map updates

• Horizontal Rows represent different Training Pages you can add, remove, or change order
• Customize the three training buttons with shortcuts for other commands in the system, such as: Mark a Waypoint, Track Recording Controls, and many others
  • Along with the normal Tone, Vibration, Continuous and Momentary Corrections, there are dozens of other possible shortcut commands that can be customized and assigned to the buttons

• See the live position for you and your dogs showing the dog names, distances, and status changes
• Display thicker track lines when the dogs are chasing game
• Download and use different maps to view on the smartphone app itself (aerial imagery and topography)
• Trip planning tools: mark waypoints, view tracks, and create routes 
• Review and replay the Hunt Activities
• Works with both Android and iOS

Note: Not all Alpha 200 handheld tools and features will display in the Garmin Explore App. Features on the handheld only:

• The Dog List/Tracked Device List/Group Management
• The Dog Tracking Compass
• The Dog Training Buttons
• Alpha 200 installed mapping
• The Home screen and System Menus
• Other GPS and Hunt Tools in the system

Also, many features of the smartphone will not send over to the Alpha 200 handheld such as notifications for other apps (phone calls, Facebook notifications, and others).